Col (Ret’d) Gerald Coady, OMM, CD
COLONEL (RETD) GERRY COADY
It is with great regret and sorrow that we announce the passing of Col (retd) Gerry Coady who passed away peacefully on 24 April 2018, with his family on his side.
Colonel Gerry Coady was born and raised in Charlottetown, PEI, graduating from St. Dunstans University (Now UPEI) in 1962 with a degree and a commission in The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. He is married to the former Trish Murnaghan, also an Islander and they have three sons and a daughter, all of whom have served in the Reserves. Two of the boys are in Vancouver and one is now in the Regular Army, posted with the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics in Kingston. Their daughter, Siobhan lives in Kingston.
Colonel Coady has commanded soldiers at every rank level. Signal Officer for the battalions of both the Royal Canadian Regiment and The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, he has also commanded the Brigade Signal Squadron in Germany, during one of his five foreign tours. He has served two staff tours in NDHQ, Ottawa. A graduate of the British Army Technical Staff College and the one year Canadian Army Staff College in Kingston. Colonel Coady also served as a member of the Directing staff of the Technical Staff College in Shrivenham, England.
While on a yearlong French Course, Colonel Coady was inducted into the Order of Military Merit in the grade of Officer. He has commanded the Communications Group Headquartered in Vancouver and served as Chief Instructor at the Communications and Electronics School, just prior to promotion to Colonel to command the school. He has been a Course Member as well as a member of the Directing Staff of National Defence College in Kingston.
In 1990, Colonel Coady took command of the Canadian Forces Base Kingston which became one of two trial bases in the CF with the mandate to do business better. In 1992, he was awarded the 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal by both the community and the Canadian Forces. In 1993, he was posted to Washington, DC to become the first Canadian Director of the Primary Standardization Office of the Armies of America, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Upon retiring back to Kingston in August 1996, Colonel Coady had served for two months shy of 38 years in the CF. He started a small business which seek to find temporary employment or Personal Services contracts to utilize the many talents that exist in the retired military community and amongst the friend of the military. Since returning to Kingston, he became a member of the Board of Governors of Kingston General Hospital (KGH) and the Board of Directors of the United Way as well as a member of The Community Foundation of Greater Kingston.
Gerry Coady was a long time key supporter of our Museum. As Cmdt CFSCE (1986-88) he was responsible for reserving the site in the Base Official Plan for the construction of the current C&E Museum. After his retirement he worked tirelessly to organize events such as the Down Home Lobster Fest to raise funds for the Museum. He was a recent reception of the Museum Foundation Philanthropy Award for passion and support. This is just part of his legacy.
Please see below for funeral and memorial details:
James Reid Funeral Home (1900 John Counter Blvd, Kingston):
31st May 2018 – 18:00 until 20:00;
1st June 2018 – 14:00 until 16:00; and
1st June 2018 – 18:00 until 20:00.
Memorial Service at St-Mary’s Cathedral (279 Johnson Street, Kingston, K7L 1Y5):
02 June 2018 at 11:00.
Below is a link to an Whig Standard article on the passing of Col (Retired) Gerry Coady.